Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is toughening her approach to the state's migrant crisis in the face of growing safety concerns and just days ahead. President-elect Trump Takes the constitutional oath.
Haley, a Democrat, is proposing sweeping changes to how migrants are housed in the state by proposing that all families staying in the country's emergency shelters be legally in place, with rare exceptions. This move would prevent new immigrants from remaining in government shelters.
The change, which comes after a review of the state's Right to Shelter law, will require all shelter applicants to prove they are either U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents or are here “under the shadow of the law.” Exceptions are made for families with children who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is toughening her approach to the state's migrant crisis in the face of growing safety concerns and just days before President-elect Trump is sworn in. (Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The governor is also looking to strengthen background checks for anyone staying in a shelter by requiring them to disclose criminal convictions in the state and elsewhere.
Her proposal would require applicants to verify their identity, residency and immigration status before obtaining housing. Currently, shelter applicants are allowed to stay before submitting any documents.
It would also limit those eligible due evictions to the state, rather than anywhere in the country. For example, this would eliminate the scenario in which an immigrant is expelled to another country and then comes back To Massachusetts And he gets the benefits of shelter.
“I believe these changes are appropriate and necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of the state shelter system in a manner consistent with the original intent of the law,” Healey said in a statement. “Additionally, these proposed changes will allow us to continue ensuring the integrity of our system, support cities and towns in meeting the needs of unhoused families in their communities and put us on the path toward a more financially sustainable shelter system.”
Migrants have been sleeping on the floors of Boston's Logan International Airport, where the shelter system has become overwhelmed. (Erin Clark/The Boston Globe, left, Joseph Prezioso, top right, David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe, bottom right.)
These moves come amid safety concerns in the state's shelters and various crimes linked to illegal immigrants in the state. Records from the state indicate that hundreds of serious incidents, including rapes, occurred at the shelters.
Last month, an illegal immigrant was allegedly arrested with an AR-15 rifle and about $1 million worth of fentanyl in a state-subsidized hotel room. An illegal Salvadoran immigrant was arrested for sexually assaulting a child while Immigration and Customs Enforcement witnessed an incident Recent rise in the number of illegal immigrants arrested for sex crimes In the Boston area and throughout Massachusetts.
Haley said in November that her state police would “absolutely not cooperate” with expected mass deportation efforts by the incoming Trump administration, warning that she would use “every tool in the toolbox” to “protect” residents in the blue state.
Haley's new proposals after reviewing the state's Right to Shelter law, “continued congressional inaction and lack of assistance from the federal government.”
The proposals need to be approved by the Legislature, and Haley outlined her recommendations In a message To the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Ways and Means Chairs of the House and Senate, urging changes to the Emergency Assistance (EA) supplemental budget.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Massachusetts Governor Maura Haley visit the Melnia A. Campus. The Recreational Cass, which was used to house more than 300 immigrants. (John Tlumacki/Boston Globe via Getty Images)
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It recently announced that the administration would phase out the use of hotels and motels as shelters by the end of 2025.
Massachusetts adopted a Right to Shelter law 40 years ago, which is designed to provide housing to families in need, especially pregnant women and children experiencing homelessness.
In recent years, immigrants have sought shelter under this law, which has overburdened its shelter system. Last year, Healy A Emergency in the state due to the surge and called for federal action. She also acknowledged that state policies may be a factor attracting immigrants.
Migrants have been sleeping on the floors of Boston's Logan International Airport, where the shelter system has become overwhelmed.
About 50,000 migrants have arrived in the state since 2021, according to. July report by the Center for Migration Studies.
Democratic House Speaker Ronald Mariano said the new proposal is in line with what lawmakers are trying to do.
“Since the beginning of the shelter system crisis, the House has consistently led efforts to ensure the commonwealth's emergency assistance program remains financially viable over the long term, leading to reforms that cap the length of stay and require job training for individuals in the shelter system,” he said in a statement to The Associated Press. Shelter system.
A security worker walks around the main living area of the government emergency shelter for migrants in the Melnia A complex. Entertainment cup. (Craig F. Walker/Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr also welcomed the proposal.
“With a growing consensus not just on Beacon Hill, but across the commonwealth, that big changes are urgently needed, we have the opportunity to take action that will make the system safer, more accountable, more transparent and more sustainable.” Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said in a statement.
In August, the Massachusetts Republican Party accused Haley of secretly spending more than $1 billion on the state's migrant crisis.
“The Haley Driscoll administration has covered up nearly $1 billion in spending in secrecy. Leaving Massachusetts “Residents are in the dark,” Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale said in a statement at the time.
“It withheld critical information about 600 incidents involving police, fire, and EMTs. By blocking journalists at every turn, the administration impeded the flow of information to the public.”
